SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Companies nationwide are recognizing the link between behavioral health and the bottom line. While 81 percent of U.S. employers now offer mental health benefits, according to Human Resources Management’s 2017 Employee Benchmark Report, many of these companies struggle with cost and access issues. To overcome these barriers and provide quality mental health benefits that yield an ROI, employers are turning to telebehavioral health.
“Depression, anxiety, substance abuse and family problems are a few of the mental health issues that can seriously impact employee morale, productivity and ultimately the bottom line,” said Glenn Dean, president of national telehealth provider MeMD. “Providing behavioral health benefits through a telehealth platform alleviates access issues, allows people to seek care from the privacy of their homes, and helps businesses address employees’ health in a cost-effective and confidential way.”
Dean details the advantages of incorporating telebehavioral health, or teletherapy, into benefits packages:
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Improving Productivity: If left untreated, mental illness can
wreak havoc on employees’ productivity. The Center for Prevention and
Health Services reports that employees miss more work due to mental
illness than any other chronic health condition, including arthritis,
asthma, back pain, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
Employees who receive behavioral health services can drastically improve their work performance. Telebehavioral health provides employees with quick and easy access to therapy – along with the convenience of scheduling sessions from their computer or mobile device.
- Saving Money: The Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance reported that every $1 investment in mental health promotion has a $3 to $5 return on investment. Yet with access issues creating roadblocks, teletherapy fills a critical provider gap, allowing both employees and employers to reap the benefits.
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Removing Barriers, Enhancing Employee Wellbeing – According to
Mental Health America, mental illness affects roughly one in five
Americans, yet the majority of adults do not receive treatment.
To compound the issue, many providers don’t accept insurance due to low reimbursement rates. In 2017, Milliman reported that employees with behavioral health or substance abuse problems were likely to encounter high out-of-pocket costs that made treatment unaffordable – even if they were insured. It’s often a choice between paying high fees or going without treatment.
With teletherapy, companies can provide access to high-value, cost-effective care for many commonly diagnosed mental health concerns, removing barriers that could inhibit employees from seeking treatment.
With teletherapy through MeMD, members can connect with a therapist in as few as 48 hours. All providers are licensed and meet rigorous credentialing criteria, so business owners can have confidence their employees will have access to quality care that could make a positive difference at home and work.
Employers interested in learning more can visit memd.me/behavioral-health.
About MeMD®
MeMD® offers a comprehensive telehealth solution that facilitates on-demand, online care for common illnesses, injuries, and behavioral health issues for consumers and businesses nationwide. The company leverages the latest technologies to treat the whole person, affordably and conveniently, from a computer or mobile device. For more information, visit memd.me.
